Mississippi leaders are aiming to put the state’s workforce on the leading edge of artificial intelligence development.
On Thursday, Governor Tate Reeves announced the launch of the Mississippi AI Talent Accelerator Program (MAI-TAP), an initiative centered around the development of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and related technical capacities at the state’s higher education institutions.
$9.1 million in grants will be made through the program to seven schools. Officials said at the press conference that the grants are a strategic investment that will directly benefit Mississippi’s future workforce capability and economic competitiveness.
“This is another bold step forward for Mississippi,” Governor Reeves said. “We’re not just preparing for the future – we’re building it. This investment will help to ensure that Mississippians are equipped with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital economy.”
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MAI-TAP received more than 20 grant applications for the initial round of funding, while the seven selected will also pursue private funding to go along with state resources.
Recipients of the MAI-TAP grants include:
- Alcorn State University: $1.15 million to train individuals in southwest Mississippi on digital literacy and artificial intelligence fundamentals. This funding will also allow for the deployment of telehealth resources through ASU’s School of Nursing to improve healthcare access to underserved, rural communities.
- Belhaven University: $390K to hire a dedicated AI program chair and integrate AI content into its online MBA curriculum to ensure working professionals have practical, industry-aligned AI skills.
- Jackson State University: $1.3 million to launch an Executive On Roster (XOR) program to engage AI experts and provide real-time industry insights, ensuring that workforce participants have relevant and appropriate skills. JSU student consulting teams will partner with Millsaps College to deliver AI-powered small business support to cultivate tech-driven startups and enhance Mississippi’s small business ecosystem.
- Millsaps College: $1 million to build upon an existing private investment. Millsaps will establish an endowed chair in AI and Emerging Technology. Through the ELSEWORKS student consulting program and in partnership with JSU, Millsaps will assist small businesses with AI integration.
- Mississippi College: $723K to leverage existing, private funding. Mississippi College’s funding will create a 12-hour certificate and a 6-hour micro credential in their School of Law to ensure Mississippi’s future and current lawyers have the knowledge needed to thrive in the AI/machine learning enabled world.
- Mississippi State University: $2.2 million to establish an endowment and seek private match for AI/machine learning workforce and research initiatives. This includes two new faculty lines and the development of a graduate certificate in Data Center Construction Management – one of the first of its kind nationally.
- University of Southern Mississippi: $1.24 million to establish a Maritime AI Innovation Lab to accelerate AI adoption in Mississippi’s Blue Economy. The Lab will focus on port efficiency, vessel safety, and supply chain optimization. Additionally, USM will launch a master’s degree in Robotics and Intelligent Systems. Funding includes support for faculty, graduate researchers, and critical GPU infrastructure. USM will establish an endowment and seek private matches to support AI/machine learning research and application of innovations.
The overall workforce development strategy in the artificial intelligence sector, as detailed by officials Thursday, is center around five pillars: AI/machine learning infrastructure, AI/machine learning literacy, education and industry-specific use cases, enhancing skills for product innovation, and research infrastructure.
“This is about more than just jobs – it’s about opportunity,” Reeves said. “With this initiative, we’re ensuring that Mississippi leads the way in AI and machine learning innovation, as well as workforce readiness. It’s another big day for Mississippi.”
The MAI-TAP initiative is a partnership between AccelerateMS, the Mississippi Development Authority, and Amazon Web Services.
